Reconciliation

Matthew 27:50-51 (WEBBE): 50Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. 51Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

When Jesus died, the veil of the temple was torn. Behind the veil was the Holy of Holies, the special place were God was present. Only the high priest was allowed to go in there once a year, after much preparation.

Hebrews 9:7 (WEBBE): 7but into the second the high priest alone, once in the year, not without blood, which he offers for himself, and for the errors of the people.

When Jesus gave His life for us on the cross, the sin separating us and God was removed. And the veil was torn from top to bottom – God reached out to restore us to Him. We were reconciled to God, and we can now enter into His presence at any time.

Hebrews 10:19-23 (WEBBE): 19Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21and having a great priest over God’s house, 22let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, 23let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (WEBBE): 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Jesus dying is by no means the end of His story though. He rose from the dead, defeating death itself!

Romans 6:8-11 (WEBBE): 8But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him; 9knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over him! 10For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God. 11Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 1:26-27 (WEBBE): 26the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, 27to whom God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery amongst the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Christ in YOU, the hope of glory!

Jesus paid such a high price to make it possible for us to walk in relationship with Him. For the Holy Spirit to live in each of us. It is what God wanted for us all along, from the creation of the universe.

Philippians 2:12-13 (WEBBE): 12So then, my beloved, even as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who works in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

Jesus has paid for everything already, but we must actively walk it out in faith! Otherwise we will not experience everything He has for us right here on earth!